Care worker stole identities of vulnerable and dying to go on an online spending spree

WOMAN ABUSED HER ACCESS TO THE HOMES OF THE PEOPLE SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK AFTER

A CUNNING care worker preyed on the elderly, dying and disabled to steal their bank details and go shopping online.

Nisha Sudhera carried out the planned offences against 13 victims, aged between 45 and 101 years old, when visiting their homes.

She also stole the banking identities of two work colleagues, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Having spent £6,700 of other people’s money, she unsuccessfully attempted to obtain about £4,000 more.

Andrew Peet, prosecuting, said that between March and December 2018 the defendant worked for Help at Home in Leicestershire as a community carer.

He said: “Her job involved going directly into the homes of primarily elderly residents, some suffering with a disability - the majority were frail, sometimes immobile, or confused.”

Some were receiving end-of-life care and the oldest, aged 101, was one of “several” who have since died.

Mr Peet said: “Almost immediately after leaving Help at Home, the defendant obtained similar employment with Women’s Aid, which supports extremely vulnerable women who have been the victims of domestic abuse.”

The 36-year-old thief was sacked by Women’s Aid on January 21 last year, having stolen the identity and banking details from inside the purses of two colleagues.

The prosecutor said: “This offending was planned, regular and repeated dishonesty against 13 vulnerable victims in their own homes and two work colleagues at Women’s Aid.

“In respect of the first employment, she was granted unfettered access to each victim’s home, from which she stole their identities and banking details and, on one occasion, a computer tablet.”

Mr Peet said one victim was made to take a bath, which she was unable to get out of without Sudhera’s assistance.

He said: “The defendant left her alone in the bathroom despite the victim’s screams that she needed help because she was unable, on her own, to turn the hot water tap off.

“It undoubtedly presented the defendant with an opportunity to steal.

“She was arrested at her (former) home address in Kew Drive, Wigston, in January last year.”

The prosecutor said that when her home was searched, police recovered several notebooks containing stolen identities.

They included 11 victims whose bank details she “actively used” and others that were yet to be used.

She confessed to the offending and told the police: “I just kept getting away with it.”

Sudhera, of Jamie Marcus Way, Oadby, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of fraud and one theft of a computer tablet.

Mr Peet said the majority of the victims’ relatives tried to shield their loved ones from the anxiety of knowing they had been “fleeced”.

One woman, who was informed about Sudhera’s dishonesty, described feeling anxiety and stress, leading to an overdose of medication and hospitalisation.

She later said of the experience: “It has exacerbated my feelings of vulnerability and it has been difficult to trust and find suitable carers since.”

A Women’s Aid employee, who had her details stolen, described being “disgusted and shocked”.

Sudhera used the stolen identities and financial details to order goods

online from Amazon, Argos, clothing stores and a perfume website.

Sarah Cornish, mitigating, said the unemployed defendant, who had no previous convictions, had suffered a breakdown of her arranged marriage and had moved to temporary sheltered accommodation.

She had been struggling to cope at the time of the offences, which became “an addiction”.

Miss Cornish said: “Some of the money was for household items and toys and she’s expressed in her letter to the victims very real remorse. She was in tears when I spoke to her this morning.” Miss Cornish told the court: “She’s estranged from family and friends; they’re really ashamed of her behaviour, as is she. “She has learnt her lesson.” Miss Cornish said the defendant was the sole carer for her two children, aged five and seven, one of whom had been diagnosed with a neurological disorder.

Judge Ebraham Mooncey said: “The quantity we’re dealing with is at least £6,700 that you managed to get, but the total figure (including unsuccessful attempts) involves between £10,500 and £11,000.

“The people you stole from were either vulnerable or colleagues of yours - you betrayed them.

“It was clearly planned and happened over a number of months.

“Your letter shows you’re remorseful for what you’ve done. You have sold your property and money is being retained by the authorities to refund the victims.”

He said the defendant’s behaviour was “horrendous” but he thought she was unlikely to reoffend.

The judge told Sudhera he was not going to lock her up immediately because she was the single mother of two young children.

Sudhera was given a 16-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

This offending was planned, regular and repeated dishonesty against vulnerable victims Andrew Peet